York's Young People show the way

4.01.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th May 2008

Cllr Runciman with Aimee, Ann Marie, Sam, and Kurt at the National Conference of the Children's Workforce Development Council in Birmingham after presenting their research findings.

Young People in York have this week been presenting the results of their research on the experiences of young people in the care of York Council, what was good about the Council's service and what could be improved.

This week these young people shared their research with professionals at a local event run by City of York Council and a national event in Birmingham. Last month they also shared their work with professionals in Leeds.

These young people represented the young people who serve on the City of York's 'Show Me That I Matter' panel, which meets with councillors each month and discusses matters of concern.

Their ground breaking research and the DVD that goes with it, has been well received by audiences locally, regionally and nationally. The young people themselves ran workshops for professionals who work in education, children's social services, and the health and voluntary sectors. Their thought-provoking findings brought many questions from these professionals, and a great deal of interest was shown.

The work was sponsored by the Children's Workforce Development Council who are planning to 'create the children's services workforce of the future', and the findings will contribute to improving services for young people across the country.

Cllr Keith Aspden joined these young people in presenting their research to the Children's Workforce Development Council in Leeds last month. He said: "I really enjoy being a member of the 'Show Me That I Matter' panel which gives me an opportunity as an elected member to hear first hand the experiences and views of young people."

Cllr Carol Runciman, Liberal Democrat Member for Children's Services, who went with the young people from York to both the local event and the national conference, said:

"I was very pleased and proud to be with York's young people when they presented their findings. All of them - Sam, Ann-Marie, Aimee, Kurt and Jade - showed great confidence and understanding when they spoke. They were a credit to the city and should be very proud of the research they

have done. It was quite clear on both occasions that there are few other Councils that have a similar direct link between young people in care and elected members. That link is vital and can make a great difference to both sides."

"I would like to thank them all, and the officers that have supported them, and hope that they will go on to inspire others with the work they have done."